Human Impact · Lite · Full site
South Africa · Survival · Severe · impact 3 of 5
First reported 2 October 2026 · latest 2 October 2026 · 1 reports from 1 outlet
Two mass shootings in South Africa killed 28 people at a tavern near Johannesburg and a Cape Town bar, deepening fear in affected communities and pressure for stronger policing.
South Africa has one of the world s highest murder rates, but the killing of 28 people in two separate mass shootings on a single night last month still came as a shock to many in the country. This year, 210 people have died in 45 mass shootings in South Africa, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. That is up from about 20 mass shootings last year, according to Julian Rademeyer, a senior adviser at the initiative.
Every figure we read, newest first.
Mass Shootings Surge in South Africa as Illegal Guns Flood Streets. Advertisement Supported by The country was shaken after nearly 30 people were killed in two separate mass shootings. South Africans are demanding greater government intervention.
South Africans are demanding greater government intervention. By Zimasa Matiwane Zimasa Matiwane reports from Johannesburg In a community an hour west of Johannesburg, eight gunmen stormed into a tavern on a Saturday night and killed 18 patrons. A few hours later, 10 people at a bar in Cape Town were killed in a separate mass shooting.
By Zimasa Matiwane Zimasa Matiwane reports from Johannesburg In a community an hour west of Johannesburg, eight gunmen stormed into a tavern on a Saturday night and killed 18 patrons. A few hours later, 10 people at a bar in Cape Town were killed in a separate mass shooting. South Africa has one of the world s highest murder rates, but the killing of 28 people in two separate mass shootings on a single night last month still came as a shock to many in the country.
A few hours later, 10 people at a bar in Cape Town were killed in a separate mass shooting. South Africa has one of the world s highest murder rates, but the killing of 28 people in two separate mass shootings on a single night last month still came as a shock to many in the country. This year, 210 people have died in 45 mass shootings in South Africa, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
South Africa has one of the world s highest murder rates, but the killing of 28 people in two separate mass shootings on a single night last month still came as a shock to many in the country. This year, 210 people have died in 45 mass shootings in South Africa, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. That is up from about 20 mass shootings last year, according to Julian Rademeyer, a senior adviser at the initiative.
Experts say those disputes often lead to the bloodshed. There is a large community of illegal miners in Wedela, the township west of Johannesburg where 18 people were killed in the tavern. Residents have told South African news outlets that the shooting may have been the result of a dispute between rival mining groups.
Open this event on the full site
Events ranked by human consequence, not clicks. Every number links to the sentence it came from on the full site. How we rank